Indonesian Media Reacts to Vietnam National Team's Match Schedule

CNN Indonesia showed astonishment at the Vietnam National Team's absence from international friendlies in September.

The Vietnam National Team will not have any official friendly matches scheduled during the FIFA Days in September. Previously, the "Golden Dragons" received an invitation to participate in Thailand's King's Cup but decided not to attend. Nevertheless, the team will still gather and hold two internal practice matches against Thep Xanh Nam Dinh and CAHN on September 4 and 7.

Vietnam’s lack of international friendlies during the September FIFA Days caught the special attention of Indonesian media. CNN Indonesia reported: "Vietnam National Team made an unusual decision to only play friendlies against local clubs during the FIFA match days in September.

These two friendly matches are considered high quality for Vietnam as they face top domestic clubs. However, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team has no scheduled international friendlies against other national teams.

Before these two domestic friendlies, Vietnam is reportedly not planning any activities during the international break in September. This is because the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and Coach Kim Sang Sik are focusing on the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

It is likely that in the friendlies against CAHN and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, Coach Kim Sang Sik will delegate the head coaching role to another assistant, while he concentrates fully on the Vietnam U23 team and the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Further commenting on Vietnam’s September schedule, CNN Indonesia wrote: "Vietnam’s approach differs from other Southeast Asian countries. Indonesia’s national team will play friendlies against Kuwait and Lebanon, while Thailand will host the King's Cup featuring Iraq, Hong Kong, and Fiji.